John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this urgent issue on the Adjournment. I would like to pass on my warmest congratulations again to the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, who is following a fine family tradition and Fianna Fáil tradition, and I wish him well. Normally I would complain that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is not present to take this matter but I take the Minister of State's presence to be a signal that he has good news for Kiltimagh, County Mayo. I am glad I have given him the opportunity to give Kiltimagh the good news.

A new and updated sewerage scheme was mooted as far back as 1992 for Kiltimagh. It has been promised and reneged on many times since then but especially in 2002 when we were told its delivery was imminent prior to the election in that year. During that period the development of the town was held back and restricted because the treatment plant was incapable of dealing with the expanded capacity. For example, the owners of a hotel built in the town a few years had to install their own treatment plant costing them thousands of euro and everybody will be aware of the pressure hotels and the tourism industry are under.

However, this issue has become more serious in recent years because of the threat to the environment posed by raw sewage running into the Pollagh River, a tributary of the River Moy, which is the biggest salmon river in Ireland, if not Europe. I have seen this raw sewage with my own eyes on numerous occasions and few days ago I witnessed it again in the company of local Councillor Lavin. The reality is that if a farmer or industrialist caused the pollution in this river, they would be rightly prosecuted. I have attended two public meetings in recent weeks, as has the Minister of State, organised by the angling club in Kiltimagh, along with every other public representative. The official delegation was informed by the council that it is waiting for approval from the Minister for the tender report it supplied in order that the scheme can proceed immediately.

The entire scheme, including the network collection and the treatment plant, will cost more than €9 million but it is crucial that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government gives the go-ahead now. The Minister of State and Deputy Beverley Flynn representing the Government informed people at the public meetings that the scheme would happen within weeks. It was supposed to happen under the former Minister, Deputy Dick Roche, in 2005. The people of Kiltimagh have waited long enough. The tourism potential of Kiltimagh and Mayo needs to be developed to its full potential, especially in these difficult times. I urge the Minister to give approval for this scheme.

As the Minister of State is well aware, the community has a case ready to go to Europe if sanction is not given immediately. I would like to put on record a Fianna Fáil press statement released on 9 May 2007, which states:

Minister for the Environment, Mr Dick Roche gave the go ahead last week for the €6m contract, which will upgrade and extend the existing wastewater collection system and will include the outfall from the new wastewater treatment plant. More than 5km of watermains will also be replaced alongside the sewerage works.

"I authorised Mayo County Council last January to invite tender for the construction of the new Wastewater Treatment Plans for Kiltimagh, This latest approval means that the way is now clear for the entire scheme," noted Minister Dick Roche...

"This new sewerage scheme will mean that Kiltimagh will be able to cater for new residential and commercial development well into the future and the local community will continue to enjoy the highest environmental standards," noted Deputy Carty.

I urge the Minister of State to give us goods news. I will cross the floor and shake his hand once he announces it.

See this speech in context